YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER ward Winning News al A pa
Vol. 9, No. 43
Including Nearby Communities
www.thepress.net
Prisoner release worries cops by Dave Roberts Staff Writer
Tens of thousands of criminals will be released early onto the streets of California in the coming years to help relieve prison overcrowding, and local police are concerned it will result in increasing crime. “I know from the Contra Costa Police Chiefs Association, we do have a concern that if the state of California is going to be releasing between 20,000 and 40,000 inmates to the California streets, what’s the plan for re-entry (into society)?” said Antioch Police Chief Jim Hyde. “We haven’t heard a serious plan other than the folks will be assigned to parole officers and all that. “If you release them from state prison and they don’t have any place to go to, then they are homeless. If they are homeless, they are in a desperate state and they tend to re-offend and turn back to a life of crime as a way to live.”
Photo by Dave Roberts
Antioch Police Chief Jim Hyde, seen here at the rededication for a torched Islamic mosque earlier this year, is one of several local police officials concerned about the state’s prisoner release plan. The prisoner-release program was announced last month in response to a three-judge U.S. District Court ruling in August that state prisons, which are at nearly double their capacity, have two years to reduce over-
crowding to no more than 137.5 percent of the prison space. That would require a reduction of about 40,000 prisoners. State officials responded with a plan that takes three years to nearly meet that goal through
a variety of measures. Those include sending fewer parole violators back to prison, reducing the time that prisoners serve, deporting illegal immigrant prisoners, reducing to a misdemeanor thefts less than $950 and allowing low-risk offenders to serve the last year of their sentence under house arrest. Antioch Mayor Jim Davis, whose city has been struggling to keep a lid on escalating crime in recent years, said he would talk to Chief Hyde to find out how many of the released prisoners might arrive in Antioch. “I don’t know what the impact’s going to be,” said Davis. “It’s very disappointing, though, that the state’s doing that. That’s why the governor’s approval rate is 24 percent.” Brentwood Police Chief Mark Evenson doesn’t need to deal with the level of crime in Antioch, but he shares that city’s concerns. “Obviously, it’s a concern see Prisoner page 26A
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October 23, 2009
THIS WEEK
Good time to get it in gear
From customizing classics to winterizing your vehicle, our Fall Auto Care Guide puts you in the fast lane.
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Med memory goes mobile A high-tech card allows you to stow all your medical records in a pocket or purse.
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Panthers tame Lions
Officials consider prep uniforms by Dave Roberts Staff Writer
Antioch school officials are eager to see all high school students wear uniforms similar to those worn by thousands of students in the Antioch elementary and middle schools, but maroon shirts and khaki pants might be an ill-fit as far as many teens are concerned. “We shouldn’t wear uniforms. It’s not cool,” said Deer Valley student Marvin Ware at a Wolverine volleyball game last week. “You don’t walk around wearing the same stuff every day. I don’t like uniforms whatsoever. It’s just boring.” His buddy Derrico Kwa agreed, saying, “I think we shouldn’t wear uniforms because clothes make you, like, express yourself and stuff. And uniforms are ugly.” Mallissa Silveira, who was shooting video for DVTV, said, “I think it’s bittersweet. I think it’s a good thing on the part of every-
one will be looked at, like, equally. But, like, I personally as a student don’t want it. Because I express my own, like, individuality through my clothes and everything.” She believes most students will opt out of uniforms, saying, “More parents will go for it, but not students.” However, A.J. Faiez, who is on the Deer Valley student leadership council, believes there’s value in uniforms. “I think it will be more proper because some kids swag their pants down sometimes,” he said. “I think if we dress professional, we probably will start studying like professionals. It feels more comfortable. And some people don’t need to buy some clothes outside; the fashion business might go out. But uniforms are good. They are actually very organized.” Antioch resident Dee Vieira, who has successfully campaigned for school uniforms in the lower see Uniforms page 26A
What’s past became prologue when a hot-off-the-preseason Liberty squad got cooled off by Antioch.
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INSIDE
Press file photo
Antioch and Deer Valley high school students will be wearing uniforms similar to those worn by elementary and middle school students, above, if school officials get their way.
Business .............................6A Calendar ..........................27B Classifieds ........................17B Cop Logs ..........................19A Entertainment ................13B Fall Auto Care Guide........ 1B Food .................................14B Health & Beauty ............... 9B Milestones .......................12B Opinion ...........................18A Outdoors ...........................4A Sports ...............................21A Talk About Town ..............5A
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A